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By Isa Isawade
The Coalition of Pro-Democracy Groups for A Better Nigeria has alerted security agencies in the country over an alleged plan by supporters of the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Dr Peter Obi, to intimidate the judiciary and cause mayhem.
Obi’s supporters, aka Obi-dients, are accused of erecting billboards at strategic places close to the presidential election petition tribunal venue, urging judges hearing the petitions to be mindful of the judgement they would deliver.
This act is seen by the concerned public as an attempt to intimidate the Judiciary in Nigeria.
A statement signed by the Coalition’s National Coordinator, Comrade AWA Bamiji, on Tuesday and which was forwarded to P.M.NEWS stated: “This is to inform the Nigerian Security Agencies and International Police as well to be on alert henceforth as we are seeing the continuous preparation for the grand plan by the members of the Labour Party (LP), popularly known as Obi-dients, to invoke the spirit of #EndSARS Part II, but this time around, against the Judiciary, should the Presidential Election Tribunal judgement swing another way.
“Apart from intimidation of Judiciary within the premises of Tribunal, the pictures of the family members of a Tribunal Judge are being displayed on social media by one of these trouble makers with an attached threatening statement.
“This has never happened anywhere in the World but they believe that Nigeria is a Banana Republic, where they could wreak havoc on lives and properties across the 36 States and Federal Capital again unchallenged.
“All Eyes On Judiciary” Billboards sprang up illegally at some conspicuous corners in Nigeria but it took people some time to discover that it was their agenda to incite the populace against the Judiciary ahead of the Judgement date. Now, that had been adequately taken care of.”
The group expressed shock that a condemnable message: “All Eyes On Judiciary Rally” surfaced during the LP’s electioneering campaign ahead of the September 2 Edo State Local Government Election in Benin on Monday 21 August which Dr Obi attended, with the video widely circulated on social media.
According to AWA Bamiji, an attempt to correct author of the inciting phrase on a WhatsApp Group Platform was futile as he spitefully pasted another flyer titled “All Eye On Judiciary”.
“We have documented all this evidence and sent it to the appropriate quarters for legal action.
“They lie a lot, using different propaganda to cajole gullible audiences but this time around, we are saying enough is enough,” the statement said.
The group, therefore, issued a 7-day ultimatum to the authorities in the country to rein in the Obi-dients, at the expiration of which it would begin mass protests at the Unity Fountain Square, Abuja which would not end until the Tribunal delivers its judgement if nothing is done.
“The International Police must be ready to start picking them up one by one abroad because we, as June 12 Veterans with unbeatable networks, will smoke them out all over the Country through our peaceful protests.
“They are troublemakers of just 3 years but we are troubleshooters of 3 Decades running. Henceforth, ‘All Eyes on OBI-DIENTS’, to save Nigerian Judiciary from further intimidation. Aluta Continua!” the statement concluded.
